Throughout the last couple of months, a group of us met every Thursday at the office to have lunch and to watch an episode of the “The Chosen.” If you’re not familiar with it, it’s probably the most creative and down-to-earth drama about the life of Jesus and his disciples. Forget about the Hollywood extravaganza. This drama takes you back two thousand years into what very well could’ve been an actual documentary of the life of Jesus and the culture of his time.
Drama is one of the most powerful means of communication. Drama has a special place in the Arabic culture. People love drama. They don’t just watch it—oh, no, they get personally involved. It’s not uncommon to find people discussing, and arguing about, dramas on social media! So, if our audience love drama, we give them drama.
One of our most popular series is a drama called “Timeless Encounter.” In 18 episodes, it depicts 18 characters and how their lives changed forever when they encountered Jesus. We all read the stories in the Bible, but this drama puts you in the shoes, or I should say sandals, of the characters. How they felt deep down, how they perceived Jesus, and how they experienced this powerful transformation.
People meet a woman caught in adultery and faced certain death only to be forgiven by Jesus and given a second chance; greedy Zacchaeus who loved money more than anything else and how he gave it all up and followed Jesus; and a man named Malkhes whose ear was cut by Peter’s sword and how shocked he was when this man being arrested took the time to heal a humble servant and show him mercy.
Drama reaches the hearts of many people, not only among our audience in far corners of the world, but also closer to home. Some of the talents who voice these characters on location are not necessarily followers of Jesus. They are the first ones to be touched by the script. It makes them stop and wonder. They ask questions and they receive answers. We never know where the seeds would land and when they would grow. God works in mysterious ways!
